Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-04-09
OLD HICKORY's HERMITAGE.
A Visit to the Interesting Tennessee
Home of Andrew jackson.

A correspondent OF the Chicago IT'D
une, who recently visited "The Hermit
age" Andrew Jackson's old Tennessee
couutry-seat, writes as follows:
When my presence became known on
the broad piazza an aged negro came for
ward and greeted me with curious and
quaint poltteness. His hair was white,
his black face wrinkled and wizZened,
and he was but poorly dressed. "Wel-
come, sab! to de 'Hermitage,'" he said,
with broad salaam and sweep
of his ancient hat. l soon learn
ed that this was "Uncle Alfred"
one OF the last Of Gen. JscKson's serv-
ants. He was born ~ the Hermit
age" eighty-fOur years ago and has never
left the place. He Ia now kind Of fRct0-
tum, and 10 him has been especially as
signed the task Of escorting such pilgrims
as may visit the historic spot and wor-
ship at the shrine OF st. Andrew. He Is
| q comical old soul. "G'way, chillsn,"
he exclaimed to a group OF youngsters Of
| all shades, who had gathered about:
| 'shy'ar you, Jim, tie de gemman's boss;
come in, SAIL I" and Uncle Alfred led the
way through the massive oaken door In
to the great hall OF the Hermitage"
| There was q suggestion OF grandeur
about this OLD hall, even though it we're
from the ravRges of Time or presence OF
dust. Uncle Alfred placed an Old-fash-
toned hickory bottomed chair for his
visitor and at once began TO explain,
in his oId-fashioned, obsequious
way, that ''de Kunnep (Col. Andrew
jackson, Jr. }, was not at home. HE
done gone to Nashville" said the old
man, with touch OF sadness in his voice.
''They'se trying to give the old place
do, ,,r1v1 ant n6 dn Il al
gone to town to see de Legislator. Guess
dey won't drive old misses out and all OF
us, but de KunnePs mighty 'fraid OF dem
folks IN Nashville"
just then a feeble, queruIous voice
came from an inner room. "Alfredw
eyes, missus," and the old man, with a
HScuse me, sahw hObbled through
side door. "Who is the gentlemanr'
heard the same voice ask. "Where is
Andrew | will not leave here till An
drew comes"
OWNED at once that this was the aged
daughter-in-law of Andrew jackson, j
beckoned Uncle Alfred, handed him
card. and asked if | could see Mrs. JACK
son. In second the old servant, bowling
and scraping, ushered me into a plainly
furnished room. In great easy chair
sat decreplt old lady. Her little body
swayed back and forth, her reatlittle
cap was closely drawn over thin, white
hair, and her eyes were lustreless. She
put forth an attenuated hand and smiled
in kind of helpless way, but said with
dignity: IL trust, sir, you VIII not require
me to leave until my son returns. l am
very old and it would be cruel to force
me out OF the house without seeing him
first" | at once assured the old lady that
had no such mission. She became calm,
and toyed with the card for moment.
You came from Nashvilles' she asked.
| told her yes, but did not live there. 81
am from Chicago"
"Ah! Chicago. What a great city that
is. My father" and here the old lady
drew herself up proudly, 'my father took
great interest IN Chicago when 1t was
only Fort Dearborn. But l have never
been there. HannahW A likely young
colored woman appeared. 1.-The gentle
man will excuse me, i know; | must lie
down. Alfred will show you about the
place, sir. Here, Hannah, give me your
arm"
The old lady rose slowly and feebly, and,
supported by her servant, tottered from
the room.
"Missus is gIttin' mighty DID," said
Alfred, who appeared; ''she's SO now, an
she's dreful 'lraid OF Dein' put out OF the
HERMITAGE" Alfred lead the way To
the back piazza, and with reverentlal
fore6nger pointed out small log house
with Two windows and an outside Chin
ney, such as are 80 common IN the South.
''Dat was de house ole mass, de Gin'l,
first lived in" he said, in retrospective
tone. "Dis yer house was built in 1895,
but de Gin'l never 'joyed hisself yer.
Dat ole house was where be lived wild de
tus' mlssus--dar was where be cum when
he cum back from New Awleans; dar
was where his trens used to cum Defo' he
was President. l was bawn dar, sab
MY nanny was the Gin'Ps cook, and you
see dat kitchen often de CABIN! l was
bawn dar, sab, In 1902"
saw that Uncle Alfred was in a CON-
munlcatiye mood and that he had a re-
markable memory, and so / let him rattle
on. "Dis yer house was built in 1926
now wait; not dis yer house exactly, fo'
TO- see dat de house dat was built den
was burned down in 1882. Next year IL
was built up agln-daps dis yer house.
1t wur de old house dat de fus misses died
in. She had only been out o. de cabin
over dar two years. De Gin'l had been
elected President. Missus was packin'
her trunks TO go to Washington when
she took sick and died just befo' Christ
mas, 1928. II nearly broke ds Gln'Ps
heart. Dis yer new house was never de
same to hmm after"
Old Alfred led The way TO the log cabin.
il 10 miserable. rickety affair, used now
as the home o! pigs and chickens. 1t is
very bard to realize that in this tumble
down wreck, Andrew jackson, in 1904,
entertained Aaron Burr. But such is the
fact. Here, 100, he dined the Marquis de
Lafayette, who afterwards wrote most
charmIngly OF the hospitality he encoun-
tered at the country home OF Gen. An
drew Jackson" That ''cOuntry home,v
as Lafayette saw IL, was an humble affair
indeed. The mud which filed the chlnks
between the l0gs long since fell away.
The chimney has orumbled, the logs
themselves are fast decay lng; IL IL q grand
but historic wreck. Leading the way
down a tangled and winter-swept garden,
old Alfred approached dOmed
structure. "DiB yere's dc Ginps
tomb" be said reysrsntiy, aud of
came hts nat. | ceuld do no less than
Alfred. MY ewn came OF. The tomb
was built W Jsokssn before his death In
honor 81 the wife he loved % we'll. II IL
dome, supported ~ suited columns, with